Chapter 6
Knuckles Apprentice
"Ha! Bet you didn't see that one coming dad," Shouted Violet with triumph. She was an echidna, like her parents. She had beautiful violet eyes, with red fur and dreadlocks. She was wearing cammo, from the bandana holding back her dreadlocks down, to her shirt and jeans.
She dropped down from the tree she'd been perched on, landing softly on the grass, without a sound. Knuckles snorted and tried to look as dignified as possible- a hard feat to accomplish when you're in a net, dangling ten feet above the ground.
"So, how long do you think I should let you hang there?" Violet asked, with a good-natured smile. She knew her father would be able to break out of the net as soon as he wanted to. The sturdy plant fibers were no match for his strength. It was the fact that he had walked right into the trap that counted, she had passed the test.
"You can't leave me in here!" Knuckles replied with his own smile. "What would Tikal do?"
Violet pretended to think about it for only a moment, and then finally said, "Mom would be just fine."
Knuckles just smirked and raised his fists to slash at the net, which easily snapped. The red echidna's eyes widened in surprise just before he hit the ground, square on his backside.
Violet sighed as she walked over. "Dad, you know I would have gotten you down." Knuckles intently hopped off his rear. "I'm the guardian of the Master Emerald! I don't need help getting out of a net!"
"Sure you don't dear." A soft voice chuckled as its owner stepped out from behind a tree. Violet looked up and beamed. "Hey Mom." Knuckles looked up and blushed. "Hello Tikal didn't see you there."
Tikal smiled fondly and stepped closer. She was wearing a basic white blouse with brown jeans. "I see you bested your father Violet. I'm proud of you; your trap was well set." Violet smiled; delighted she had impressed her mother.
"It was. I'm proud too honey," Knuckles said. He glanced at Tikal who gave a subtle nod. "In fact your mother and I believe its time you begin your apprenticeship." Violet's smile faltered for a split second, before she responded, in a slightly forced voice. "Really? I thought I wasn't going to start till I was 18."
"You were, but we think you have advanced so much at just 16, that it would be a waste of time to wait two more years." Tikal explained, with yet another soft smile.
Knuckles studied his daughter for a moment and asked softly. "Aren't you happy?"
Violet didn't hesitate, "Of course! You just surprised me, that's all."
"Great! Come on Violet, we need to go to the house and get ready for the ceremony." Knuckles said in what he thought was his most fatherly voice.
Tikal gave Violet a hug and said, "Your father and I are going to prepare the Master Emerald. Why don't you go clean your self up and process what is going to happen. After all, tomorrow is a big day for you."
"Okay Violet, we'll see you tomorrow at 9 o'clock in the morning, love you." Knuckles said turning north toward their home, and walking off. Tikal doing likewise.
~#~
~Violet's POV~
I stared at the swaying bushes where my parents had just walked through, with a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. I turned away and walked south, to the river that ran across Angel Island. As I walked, I did as my Mother had suggested: I tried to process what I had just been told.
I was going to have my apprentice ceremony two years sooner than planned. The ceremony was how the old guardian officially started the training of his or her future replacement: in this case, me. Mom and Dad had been training me since I was six, for the day I would one day replace Dad as guardian of the Master Emerald. There was just one problem, I may be a great fighter and even better strategist, but I just didn't want to dedicate my life to a rock, no matter how special. With a deep sigh I started to run, and it only took a few minutes to get to the river.
I slowed down to a walk as I approached the river, and then stopped entirely. Crouching down, I gazed at my disorientated reflection in the water. I don't know how long I crouched there, just staring at my reflection, before I felt the tears flow from my eyes. I do know I cried for several hours at least.
I couldn't figure out how to get out of this mess. The Master Emerald needs a guardian, and my dads not gunna live forever. He had no clue as to how I felt about being the next guardian. I had been sure to never give him or mom any reason to doubt my wanting to guard the Emerald for the rest of my life...till the day I die...
I barely even understood why I had to be the next guardian. Mom and Dad say that only one who bears the crescent mark can guard the Master Emerald. I did have it; it was white- though at the moment smeared with dirt -and on my right palm. I guess I always thought that by the time I was eighteen I'd have found a way around it. Yet here I am at sixteen, with no solution in sight. Unless...wait would if I found someone with a crescent mark? Then all my problems would be solved!
Wait. My ceremonies tomorrow, I can't find anyone that quick. I'm not like Sonic's family who can move at the speed of sound. However, if I ditched the ceremony to find a different apprenticeā¦but how would I do that? Abruptly I stood up, my mind made up. I'm going to run away to find a replacement for myself!
